How Many Days Can a Medical Certificate Cover?

One of the most common questions about medical certificates is how many days they can cover. The short answer: it depends on your condition and the doctor's clinical judgment.

What Determines Certificate Duration?

When deciding how many days to certify, doctors consider:

• The nature of your illness or injury
• Typical recovery times for that condition
• Your job requirements and physical demands
• Your overall health and any complicating factors
• Whether you've already been unwell for some time

Typical Durations for Common Conditions

While every case is individual, here are typical ranges:

• Cold and flu: 1-5 days
• Gastroenteritis: 1-3 days (48 hours symptom-free for food handlers)
• Migraine: 1-2 days per episode
• Back pain (acute): 2-7 days
• Minor surgery: 3-14 days depending on procedure
• Mental health: 1-5 days initially, with review
• COVID-19: 5-7 days typically

Can Certificates Be Backdated?

Doctors can certify that you were unwell in the recent past if it's clinically reasonable. For example, if you were too sick to seek medical attention on Monday but see a doctor on Wednesday, they may backdate to cover Monday and Tuesday.

However, there are limits. Doctors generally won't:

• Backdate certificates for extended periods (weeks or months)
• Certify illness without reasonable evidence you were unwell
• Provide certificates for pre-planned absences disguised as illness
• Cover dates far in the past without strong clinical reasons

What If You Need More Time?

If your initial certificate is expiring but you're still unwell, you can request an extension. The doctor will assess whether continued time off is appropriate.

For extension certificates, it helps to explain:

• Your current symptoms and how they're affecting your ability to work
• Whether you've improved, stayed the same, or worsened
• Any treatments you've tried
• Your original condition and when it started

Workplace Requirements

Your employer's policies may influence certificate needs:

• Many workplaces only require certificates for absences over 2 days
• Some require certificates from day 1 — check your policy
• Awards or enterprise agreements may have specific requirements
• Excessive absences may trigger a requirement for certificates

Extended Absences

For absences longer than 1-2 weeks, a single telehealth certificate may not be appropriate. Extended absences usually need:

• Assessment by your regular GP who knows your history
• Possible specialist input depending on the condition
• Regular reviews and updated certificates
• A graduated return-to-work plan in many cases